A bursary form issuance event held on April 3, 2023, by Ruiru Member of Parliament Simon Ng’ang’a King’ara turned tragic when a stampede happened, leaving one person dead.
James Sagwe, a 45-year-old boda boda rider, had already been issued with a number 783 in the queue and was waiting to be served.
In an April 5 interview with Nation, Sagwe’s wife Pamela Atanga, recounted the day’s events that led to her husband’s demise.
“The last time I saw my husband was on Monday morning when he left the house for Githurai 45, to secure the bursary forms for our two children, hoping they would subsequently get a bursary allocation of Ksh7,000 from our MP Simon King'ara.
“Unfortunately, the crowd was too huge and impatient and started pushing each other, scrambling for the bursary forms,” she noted.
Last week, the MP had invited all needy parents in Githurai 45 to show up and take the limited bursaries available.
She added that Sagwe sought the help of the bursary programme since his boda boda business was not able to cater for his childrens’ school fees.
The sea of humanity was expected but the lack of order was blamed by the family for the sad demise of their kin.
People started scrambling on who will be served first. In the melee that ensued, Sagwe was shoved to the ground and trampled on.
When the confusion receded, he was found and on the ground by fellow boda boda riders who rushed him to the nearby hospital.
He was then transferred to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Research and Referral Hospital (KUTRRH) but was pronounced dead on arrival.
“The area Member of Parliament has turned the issuing of bursary forms into what looks like a political rally to cement his political base without considering the risks that he is exposing poor people to.
“But because we are poor and vulnerable, we have no choice but to troop to the venue he sets for the issuing of bursary forms. It is sad though,” decried Sagwe’s wife.
